KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Malaysia's Prasarana Transit has announced that BYD Co. Ltd. won the bid
to supply 15 new battery electric transit buses. As Malaysia first, as
well as Southeast Asia's largest electric bus public bidding project,
BYD beat out competitors from around the world for this historic
project. The 15 electric buses will be operated by Rapid KL, a Prasarana
subsidiary, to be used as shuttle buses on capital of Malaysia Kuala
Lumpur’s first BRT line exclusively for electric buses. As one of
Malaysia's largest public transportation groups, Prasarana is
responsible for the management and planning of Malaysia metro, buses and
other public transportation assets. Prasarana is 100% state-owned.

Since last August, BYD’s 40 foot electric bus has been in trial
operation in Kuala Lumpur. As a part of the trial, the bus was arranged
to run on a 5.3 km - 7 station, Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) line operated by
Rapid KL and the trial operation results are satisfactory and high
complimented by Prasarana. According to the report, the range of the
pure electric bus could be more than 400 kilometers per charge in Kuala
Lumpur.

This year in January, after hosting the BYD pure electric bus trial
operation launching ceremony, Mr. Datuk Seri Idris Haron, governor of
the state of Malacca, drove the bus himself, and then put his thumb up
and stated, “the electric bus is very comfortable and very quiet, we
like this kinds of zero emissions bus." As the first all-electric bus
introduced to the state of Malacca, the BYD electric bus will be
operated in Bandar Hilir area for one to two months. BYD's pure electric
bus had passed various local tests in Malaysia earlier.

A BYD representative said, "It’s a great honor for us to win the
Malaysia’s first electric bus bid. Malaysia pays great attention to the
sustainable development of public transport, BYD hopes to work closely
with all of our partners like Prasarana to make the public
transportation cleaner and quieter.” Actually, improving the quality of
public transport has been incorporated into the national development
program in Malaysia. The relative authorities think public
transportation is one of the main reasons for urban air pollution, while
BYD’s pure electric bus is considered to fit this reform direction.

BYD’s
pure-electric bus employs many advanced technologies developed
in-house by BYD’s expansive staff of more than 15,000 engineers. The
advanced environmentally-friendly, Iron-Phosphate
(or “Fe”) batteries, in-wheel hub motors and regenerative braking.
The break-through BYD Iron-Phosphate battery is fire-safe and non-toxic:
there are no caustic materials contained in the battery, no toxic
electrolytes or heavy metals and can be completely recycled. The BYD
electric bus delivers a host of operational and environmental benefits
for public transport riders, operators and people in the community – it
is very quiet and ensures a comfortable ride without vibrations, jerks
or noise associated with the conventional buses and combustion engines.
The bus can also drive for more than 250 km (155 miles) even in heavy
city traffic on a single charge. The bus has completed more than 20
million kilometers of “in revenue service” and has been evaluated in
many major cities all over the world.

About BYD

BYD Company Ltd. is one of China’s largest companies to
have successfully expanded globally. Specializing in battery
technologies, their green mission to “solve the whole problem” has made
them industry pioneers and leaders in several High-tech sectors
including High-efficiency Automobiles, Electrified Public
Transportation, Environmentally-Friendly Energy
Storage, Affordable Solar
Power and Information Technology and Original Design Manufacturing
(ODM) services.

As the world’s largest manufacturer of rechargeable batteries, their
mission to create safer and more environmentally friendly battery
technologies has led to the development of the BYD Iron
Phosphate (or "Fe") Battery. This fire-safe, completely
recyclable and incredibly long-cycle technology has become the core of
their clean energy platform that has expanded into automobiles, buses,
trucks, utility vehicles and energy storage facilities. BYD and all of
their shareholders, including the great American Investor Warren
Buffett, see these environmentally and economically forward products as
the way of the future.

BYD has made a strong entrance to the North, Central and South American
markets with their battery electric
buses, and lineup of automobiles. Their mission lies not just in
sales growth, but also in sociological integration and local job
creation as they have poured incredible investments into developing
offices, dealerships and manufacturing facilities in the local
communities they now call home, truly a first for Chinese companies. For
more information, please visit www.byd.com
or www.facebook.com/bydcompany.